I fly a tactical in assault cruiser... yes it's true. Recently I noticed that now everyone now focus fire on those type of chars first. That's ok, I can live with it, but I'll need to change my build to try and get more survival (thanks season 4)

My strategy is, if my team is good (or has a healer) I keep cycling Eptw so I can broadside always on full weapon power, this with a weapon battery + my tac buffs gets my beams on 800 damage almost all the time (even with FAW on). If not, I cycle my Epts + TSS for survival and keep RSP when a escort turns to me. DEM is amazing to up my dps too.

But, like I said, now I keep going down very quickly, season 4 really got my survability down... so I thought on changing to this:

Using Eng, Sci, and Tac teams puts them all on shared cooldown, and I can't give up DEM 3 and Sci team... just too valuable for PVP. Would it still work?

Thanks in advance.

Archived Post

07-31-2011 12:36 PM

FAW no longer works like it did before S4. They made changes and lowered its up time. You also has the same chances for beam misses as normal beams. I'm not sure your able to provide sustained Dps all the time. BO1 might be good to drain a shield between the constant DPS. Sci team won't give you a shield resist so I would drop it for TSS.

Archived Post

07-31-2011 12:40 PM

I've noticed that too, but I can still do some decent dps with it, if I use beams with accuracy. BO is a good idea, but I tried it in the past and the damage was negligible...

The problem of dropping Sci team is giving away protection from SNB and Scramble... which I get all the time :S

Archived Post

07-31-2011 12:45 PM

However, if your not the healer. Then I would not be concerned with clearing SNB or scramble off yourself. Just keep firing what you have and it will be fine. THE added shield resist will come in when they SNB your empts and then your sheilds are left weak.

Archived Post

07-31-2011 12:52 PM

I see. I may try that, thanks. Also I'll try BO again..

How about the equipment? I used half borg, half aegis so I could get 1 bonus of both. If I switch to full borg set it would be better?

Archived Post

07-31-2011 12:56 PM

2x EngTeam 1, 2x EPtW 2, 2x EPtS 3, DEM 3 or whatever else you want.

Archived Post

07-31-2011 01:01 PM

@MVS5191

Wow. Nice idea, but how about the shared cooldowns of Eng. Team and Tac. Team?

Honestly IMO anyway you are falling into the trap that many tac cruisers fall into. How do you plan to kill anyone ? You have a whole bunch of heals.... and one DEM 3 which is not all that great and has a 1:30 cool down. "The best form of defense is attack."- Karl von Clausewitz

Dump the FAW.... even when it was OP it was cheese... and honestly pointless against anyone but noobs. If you are going to run a Torp replace it with HY 1. HY 1 is the best torp skill in the game and a tac can hit one copy of every 15 seconds with tac init. Stick with Phasers, Pha > then everything else.

DUMP the RSP.... it is not going to help you.
DUMP the EPTW... 1... replace it with Engines. This will let you move if a escort decides hes going to drop a facing and beat you up.
Engi Team 3... unless you are playing a heal cruiser is silly get rid of that and put a Engi team 2 in.
EPTS 3... not needed unless you are really bad... that slot should have dmg in it run EPTS 2 you really won't notice much diffrence run at least one EPS so you can switch to Shield power if you are really in trouble.

Power Settings
W - 100
S - 25
E - 40
A - 35
Thats right don't run with tons of power in shields. lol Run 1 or 2 EPS units and switch to a full shield power setting... or switch to aux and hit TSS 2.

Hazard Emitters is nice but you simply don't have the room for it get rid of it for Transfer shield strength you won't regret that.... use your sci slot for a tractor... combo EWP and tractor beams to kill defense... that with a beta might make you do some dmg. Use aux to damp instead of aux to sif.. I pop cruisers all the time cause there slow fat targets that can't turn a facing, they are easy to stop and kill what ever defense they have.
Aux to Damp makes you immune to shockwaves and gravity wells... and gives you a very good turn boost.
If you are taking too much dmg don't sit there and take it... hit EPTE and Aux to Damp turn tractor lay the pee and ruin someones day.

PS... in that second lt comander slot... instead of DEM 2 or EWP 1... try out a boarding party 2... I know almost everyone runs a tac team... but if you have some one tractored and stuck in your plasma, it is very funny to lauch them on them when you see them pop a SCI or Engi team. the Boarding Party disables with a phaser proc could mean a quick kill. Keep it on a spare officer though... if its all sci and GWs and such its pointless to use it.

Archived Post

07-31-2011 01:35 PM

@Husanak
Great idea, never thought of it that way.. I'll definantly try out that build and power setting. Thanks!

But how about equipment, switch to full borg set or is aegis+borg still good? Also, wouldn't I miss the Eptw when broadsiding?

Archived Post

07-31-2011 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoreyTaylor
(Post 3674844)

@Husanak
Great idea, never thought of it that way.. I'll definantly try out that build and power setting. Thanks!

But how about equipment, switch to full borg set or is aegis+borg still good? Also, wouldn't I miss the Eptw when broadsiding?

If you are running 2 torps and not using FAW you won't miss the EPTW, no. All it does for you is a very short 5sec dmg boost... and pump your power up. If your already at close to 125 power is shouldn't be an issue.

The Borg set seems pretty OP right now if you can get it go for it. I still like the Aegis, but I would probaly drop the shield run the engine and the deflector for the little extra power and the +10 defense is nice. The reactive shielding is great on an escort that doesn't really have the room to always run armour. On your ship run a Neutronium, and one of what ever else you like The +35 phaser is a good choice, keep a Mono one for the + to kinetic for when the dumb peng peng ships are around.

I did a quick spec for you... I speced into hazard systems only cause its still nice to have the option to put a Hazard 1 in and have it do something.